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LED controller and method using variable drive currents

  • US 8,207,686 B2
  • Filed: 09/05/2006
  • Issued: 06/26/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for illuminating an emitter, comprising:

  • an emitter;

    a first circuit programmed to provide a digital signal comprising a binary signal provided in either parallel through a number of conductors or as a serial data stream; and

    a second circuit arranged to accept said digital signal and generate a direct current drive current signal having a level based at least partially on said digital signal, said direct current drive current signal being unmodulated and directly applied to said emitter to cause it to emit light, the intensity of emission from said emitter dependent at least partially upon the level of said direct current drive current signal;

    said second circuit comprising a first converter to convert said digital signal to an analog voltage and a second converter to convert said analog voltage to a drive current;

    said second converter comprising an operational amplifier coupled to a transistor.

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